April 2011

April 30, 2011

Today was an amazing day. It was windy but with all the activities I would want to be any where else. I spend all day on the beach and loved every last minute of it. Presley had a great day with her friends and is so at home on the beach in the sand and water.

Our neighbor had told us he would be playing in todays volleyball tournament. And it just so happened his team played on the court right in front of us and had set up camp right next to us! Knowing someone playing made the volleyball spectating much more enjoyable. The fact that they made it to the finals was pretty cool too.

The volleyball tournament made photo taking a bit more of a challenge (lots of photo clutter). So I didn't get the camera out much today. I'm hoping for some time in the morning tomorrow to take some photos of my Bug. Hopefully the wind will have passed as well...

My favorite photo of the day is Mr. Ryder Man and Daddy. He was crying because Mommy walked away but mostly because he was tired. Daddy Mike just grabbed him close and started to "ssh" him. He stopped crying but kept that sweet pouty face until Mommy came back. Sweet Boy.

We have arrived in Rocky Point, Mexico! The first day was a bit of a tough one for me. I had the 24 hour flu, my entire body ached and I wondered what I was thinking come here! However this morning I am feeling 100% better but will not be running (I didn't eat yesterday). I'm now just looking forward to enjoying my time here relaxing. This weekend there is a tri, 10K, 5K and a volleyball tournament. So the beach is busier then usual but it should be a good time.

I only had my camera out for 20 minutes yesterday, yup an obvious sign I wasn't feeling well! I got a few photos of the girls covered in sand with mermaid tails... I'm looking forward to a much better day today.

April 26, 2011

Oops. I'm a little behind (again) but I'm still working on the projects. Week 12 was, motion. I had a couple of ideas but I liked this idea best and wanted to work on my writing skills. I didn't cross my " T" quite right but I think the writing is pretty clear.

April 22, 2011

Today I photographed a beautiful baby girl and her family. She is just a tiny thing, 5lbs. 5oz. and 100% adorable. In the beginning she put up a little bit of a fight but after her first sitting she pretty much slept for the rest of the session. Not only was she such a good model but she smiled a lot too, good dreams I guess.

We spent a lot of the session outside, I love photographing thick green grass. Plus babies really seem to enjoy being outdoors and the weather right now is perfect. It was warm enough that we didn't even worry about her being cold and I was able to photograph her for longer periods of time.

It was great photographing Brinley and I'm looking forward to photographing her cousin (due in two days) in the upcoming weeks. We are hoping to get a few photos of the newborn cousins together, cross your fingers they cooperate. What a sweet photo that would be.

April 19, 2011

My lil' one is home sick, and we have what is called a sick bed in our house. It's just a bed made in the living room, (who wants to be in their bed room alone and sick?). This is Presley on her bed, and the second rotation of bedding. I gave her too much water...

Although it breaks my heart to see her sick, I really enjoy tending to her. I laid with her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep. Being able to take care of someone like that is a privilege that I've only had as a parent. It's really the only time she has stayed still in all of her life for this length of time. She is much more soft spoken then usual and really craves my touch and to have me near... When I wasn't rubbing her back she had her arm akimbo to mine or her tiny feet resting on my legs.

After she fell asleep I got on the web and found this prayer a friend posted by Tina Fey. It made me laugh... The line, "my Mother did this for me once" touch me. Although I'm not cleaning up poop I am holding her hair back and enjoying being the one to comfort her... And all the things Tina wrote below are true, I pray for no tattoos, no damage and her safety at every turn in life.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

April 16, 2011

Today was the 7th annual Pat's Run in Tempe. I'm a huge fan of Pat Tillman, and I love this event. Over the past 7 years a lot has changed. This year I didn't see the large photo of Pat to take pictures in front of. I was a little disappointed plus they no longer have the Emerson quotes or much to do with Pat Tillman (visually). It's a race that has grown a lot. I imagine they raise a lot of money and do a lot for the projects they support. So it's a good thing overall, it's just a change...

I'm the first to admit I have a horrible memory. That's being said, I really don't remember it being so congested with runners. I really expected after the first mile to have some room to get to a good running pace, that never happened. Gabi (my girlfriend who I ran with) and I both felt like it was a game, trying to get around people, strollers and walkers. It was still a lot of fun and felt more like an interval training. Short little sprints jumping in front and around people. Gabi and I chatted the whole way and I knew pretty quickly it was going to be more about being a part of something then trying to shoot for an awesome time. And don't get me wrong I left the race tired and feeling good.

Presley did the kids race for the first time this year. She ran .42 miles. Well from what her Dad said (he ran with her) she ran the .02miles. I waited at the finish line to photograph them. She raced in like it was her job! She was so excited and asked me after if she was the winner. I'm really glad she it and look forward to her taking part in the future Pat's Run races.

April 14, 2011

Presley and her friends (she asked me to add a few in particular). Doing hand stands, yup she watches Mommy closely.

A collaboration. I drew the horse and Presley drew herself.

When I was in grade school one of my friends Shawna use to get notes from her Mom on her napkin in her lunch. I noticed it one day and remember Shawna hiding it from me, but telling me what it was. Years later in high school I reminded her about her the notes, she told me her Mom still put notes in her lunch. I thought it was very sweet.

I remembered this and had long ago decided I would do this for my Love Bug... They started out as little notes and I planned on keeping a few. But one day they disappeared and I started using a dry erase marker on the inside her lunch box. This was nice too because I didn't have to try to draw so small...

She didn't mention them at all in the beginning. I had even considered stopping because I didn't get any reaction. Plus it can be difficult to be creative everyday with my limited ability. Then finally when I drew The Grinch during the Holidays she came home with how all her friends liked it.

Presley now will want to see what I draw and ask to help sometimes. I drew her in her ballet tutu doing a plie´and she asked me if I would draw Henry (a friend in her class) watching her practice. I did, later I asked if she showed him. She told me it was a secret...

Now she likes to help, or peak (I use to surprise her) and give me recommendations... It's a fun little sometime for me to do. I have found that it makes me stop for a minute and make the mundane act of preparing lunch memorable/fun for me... I have to say it's a little comical that I'm posting this today and I have for the second time of the year- forgot to send her to school with a lunch! Thank goodness they will provide her with one... It's my hope she will remember the all the times I have remembered and not these two times.

April 13, 2011

I've been a little behind in my posts. Life has been really busy, which is a good thing! But it's not been good for my blog posts... This is a photo of one of my pregnancy photo sessions (last month- yikes). This lil' bundle of joy has since been born. I know it's hard to believe she was so far along in her pregnancy!

The session was so much fun! I've been finding that I really like the black and white photographs lately. The part I like the best is the lightness of the photo and with her black hair the photo really pops. It just as a heavenly feel to it! I'm looking forward to more black and white photos!

April 10, 2011

This week's project was pretty easy. I've been shooting my Crossfit events in black and white lately. So I knew I was going to use one of those shots for this weeks image... The events are held indoors and the "boxes" (gyms) have a very stripped down feel. Because of this fact black and white work well plus it gives the photo a gritty feel that I like.

The photo above is one I've been trying to get for several events now. I love the ritual of the chalk before a workout, everyone has there technique of applying chalk. It makes for a great photo too with flying piece of chalk around. It has been a hard photo to get.

Usually the person applying chalk does so very quickly and it doesn't give me much time to capture. I haven't really gotten to the point where I stage any photos before/during the events. For now I've really tried to stay out of the competitors way. With that being said, I'm about one event away from asking them, "can you do that again?!"

April 06, 2011

My two weeks are up, and goal accomplished! If you haven't read my recent post, I had made a goal to have a handstand down without the use of a wall. Today was the deadline and I decided to take my victory photo on ASU's football field (Go Devil's!). Being that U of A fans have been wearing their shirts in my town (as Presley would say).

Although I did have to sneak on the field to take this photo. Mark and I rode our bikes over and first asked for permission on the field. We were denied, his ASU basketball alumni status did not impress the front desk girl. So plan B, we just found a way to sneak on... Had we had more time I would of set up the photo a little differently but I'm just glad we got it! I was so nervous thinking we were going to get arrested. I didn't even worry about there not being a wall to catch me.

The past weeks I've worked on my handstand every day after my work out. My shoulders are pretty sore but I'm pretty happy! I guess the next goal is to work on holding the handstand for a longer period of time.